News

Fulton County Cooperative Extension shares cold weather preparation tips to assist residents with taking a proactive response to frigid temperatures. Winter can be unpredictable as temperatures drop quickly. It is important for residents to take necessary steps to protect their homes, families, vehicles and pets.

â€śWe want residents to know they can take measures to prepare their response to the cold weather we are experiencing,â€ť states Menia Chester, Director of Fulton County Cooperative Extension. â€śOur office works closely with the Georgia Farm Bureau who has provided very useful tips that homeowners can follow to protect their investment.â€ť

Pipe Protection

To avoid costly water damage, Â listed below are a few tips that can help when the temperature reaches freezing or below:

Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Â

Cover outside faucets with insulating foam covers.

Turn off water to outside faucets, if available, and open valves on faucets to allow them to drain.

Turn off sprinkler system and blow compressed air through the lines to drain them.

Close or cover foundation vents under house and windows to basements.

Close garage doors.

Insulate exposed pipes (both hot and cold) under house with foam pipe insulation.

Open cabinet doors under sinks.

Drip hot and cold faucets in kitchen and bath when the temperature drops below freezing. Drip single control faucets with lever set in middle.

Set icemaker to make ice if the water line to it runs under the house.

Don't forget to check on pipes to your washing machine in the laundry room

Locate water main cut-off valve, and have a cut-off key handy.

Keep the faucet open when thawing frozen pipes to allow water to begin flowing through it.

After the weather has warmed above freezing and any frozen pipes have thawed, turn off dripping faucets and monitor your water meter to check for unseen leaks.

At Home and Work

Primary concerns are loss of heat, power and telephone service and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day. Have available:

Flashlight and extra batteries

Battery-powered weather radio and portable radio to receive emergency information

Extra food and water such as dried fruit, nuts and granola bars, and other food requiring no cooking or refrigeration.

Extra prescription medicine

Baby items such as diapers and formula

First-aid supplies

Heating fuel: refuel before you are empty; fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm